IDE Channels: DMA "If Available"

[lennox]

While reading these pages to get my head around converting formats and burning to DVD I saw the importance of DMA mentioned.
I checked my system and it says, under both Device 1 and Device 2 "If available" and "auto detection".
Is this right? Does it mean that when I need DMA (whatever that is, and perhaps I don't need to clutter my head with details) it'll be there?

[anonymez]

this should clear it all up http://forum.digital-digest.com/show...threadid=44808

[lennox]

I presume then that when DMA is available it'll be what I need, and that the 'current transfer rate' which at the moment says "not applicable", will show the right Mode. So I can quit worrying about this and move on to other questions - of which there will be many!
Thanks.

[blutach]

Not applicable means no device is connected to that port - nothing to worry about.

Regards

[jm1647]

If your current transfer rate ever shows "PIO mode" and it had a DMA rate there before there was a problem and something kickedit back to PIO mode. A common thing that does it is CRC errors on media.